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“Reports of these attacks started pouring in the night of the explosion, beginning with Yveswich, and since then similar incidents have been popping up in most major cities across the continent.”

“Only the major cities?” Darien asked. “Which ones? Be specific.”

He sighed and rubbed his chin. “So far? Yveswich, Tyrmouth, Whispervale, Shadowhaven, and now Angelthene.”

Ivy and Kylar looked his way. He knew what they were thinking.

Were these all major cities that ran along the seam? The sealing points that Helia had used to erect the Veil, possibly?

“So, if you don’t think it’s the Venom,” Ivy began, “then whatdoyou think it is?”

“PCR tests point to the emergence of a lethal, highly pathogenic virus they’re calling theVenenum virus.”

Darien made a sound of irritation in his throat. “They’re really trying to blame the Venom, aren’t they?”

“If you ask me, I don’t think they’re out of line for taking precautions regarding the drug,” Finn said. “There’s a strong possibility that Venom, due to its supernatural origins andchemical makeup, could be contributing to the spread. Making it more contagious, perhaps—I don’t really know.”

Darien scowled.Great. If only he’d known this before he’d taken a dose at Hell’s Gate.

Finn continued, “We still have a ways to go before we have all the answers, but this is the only thing that makes sense right now. The cities are all too spaced out. So, the chances of the virus being airborne…” He sighed through his nose. “Even if Venom’s not the cause, we’d be stupid not to look into it.”

“How many of the attackers had Venom in their blood?” Darien pressed.

“That’s…a difficult question to answer. Once the high wears off, the drug is undetectable in blood tests, so by the time our coroners get around to conducting the autopsies, they can’t find any trace of the drug.”

Darien scoffed. “So, basically, you don’t know jack-shit,” he concluded. Judging from Finn’s answering frown, he didn’t appear to be a fan of that statement.

Kylar chimed in. “You said you managed to arrest a couple of the offenders. Did you run tests on them?”

“We drew blood, yes, but the results aren’t in yet. Whether we were fast enough this time remains to be seen.”

A hush fell over the table, everyone processing the information.

Finn said, “My question for you guys is this: Can you tell me anything about what’s happening in Yveswich?”

Ivy and Kylar shared a glance. Looked at Darien.

“I’m not saying you’re responsible for any of it,” Finn said. “But photographs don’t lie. Street cameras caught you going into Caliginous on Silverway the night of the explosion.” When they still didn’t say anything, Finn pressed, “Look, this is serious. If we don’t get to the bottom of this, it could have a detrimental effect on the hellseher population. It’s happening already—fearmongering is causing hellsehers in positions of authority to temporarily be demoted or laid off. A few of my buddies in the hellseher division are currently on paid leave—and these are people who don’t even take Venom. This could cause a rift in society, and I would like to avoid it if we can.”

Darien thought it through. It was horseshit that they were singling out hellsehers so quickly into their investigation. And while he knew he and his Devils could wind up in the line of fire if this continued to escalate, being as they were not only hellsehers butDarkslayers,people who were already under the radar for their unconventional way of living…

He couldn’t risk it. He didn’t trust Finn enough to let him in.

Finn waited, looking desperate, hands open in silent request.

“I’m sorry,” Darien said. But he didn’t sound sorry at all.

Finn’s shoulders sank, the hope fading out of his eyes.

Darien finished off the last of his beer and added, “We don’t know anything.”

As they drove backto Heaven’s Gate, they discussed everything they’d learned from Finn.

Kylar said, “You think those cities all run along the seam?”

“They could,” Darien said. “There are only three people who would know for sure: Erasmus, Cyra, and Tamika.” He ticked them off on his fingers. They couldn’t ask the latter, since she was still in an induced coma—Sabrine had called Loren to update her after going by herself to the hospital to bring flowers to Tamika. But as for Erasmus and Cyra...

He and Loren would be paying those two a visit tomorrow. With Roark.